With summer time officially beginning this weekend we again saw record crowds out on their noble steeds at all the various levels of cycling throughout the club. We again had big numbers taking part in our

beginners introductory programme on Saturday, we also saw the juniors taking to the road as a team for the first time with a group of 15 riders rolling out from Outdoor Escape! Sunday morning saw the by now regular big crowds take to the roads, in the sun for a change.

On what was an exceptionally fine sunny Saturday morning an equally fine turnout of 15 lads pedalled in for the first training spin of the year for the youths of Lakeside Wheelers. 

These boys were marshalled by the not so youthful sextet of 

Mark Eivers, Charlie Sheridan, Billy Cunnane, Robbie Kenny, Steve Franzoni and Sean Boyne on a session that took them to Tyrrellspass for some ice-cream via the daunting Gneewebawn Hill (twice). The fitness levels were well up due to some furious turbo training over the winter and this showed by the group sticking together for the outward ride into a strong headwind.

For these first few weeks they will be coached up on the basic bike handling skills required to ride in a group on the road. When these skills are up to scratch the hard work will begin and the ice-cream forgotten about....so lads have your fill of Ben and Jerry’s and prepare for pain......only kidding!

The only lads in pain will be the auld bucks trying to coach/keep up with ye!

The A group continued with the training plan with week 2 of the Build 2 training phase. Perfect weather conditions made the race pace efforts and race practice a bit easier. With 13 riders we travelled  Horseleap, Moate, Doon, Ferbane, Ballycumber, Clara, Kilbeggan and home by Tyrellspass to complete the 105 km/h at a strong pace.

Well done to Damien O’Brien on a well-deserved A4 race win last weekend.

Another great result for the club.

Robbie Kenny and the group that travelled to the Tour of Flanders event in Belgium last year have planned a long spin over local ”famous” hills next Sunday April 1 to coincide with the 2012 Tour of Flanders event. It sounds like many of the A group will join the spin that will be starting earlier next Sunday – Robbie has planned a 7:30am departure for this spin next Sunday.

Arriving at the ORS this morning with no one there but myself and Colm Yeats, I thought everyone had slept-in and forgotten the change in the clocks that officially introduces summer-time to our shores and with it, for today at least, brought the sun. It didn’t take long for the car-park to fill up and from where I was standing there were plenty of cyclists in all groups, particularly in the C group. I could see new faces had joined us through the “Beginners Programme” which runs on a Saturday morning.   Again, well done to Carmel Dolan, Mark Horohoe and the rest of the team who have put in a great amount of time and energy to this programme.

When I stand up to call out the route for the day’s spin, the group leader “me” should have a grasp of the roads to be taken but sometimes ( I’m sure you’ll be shocked to hear) is not always the case and today was one of those days. There was a total of 45 cyclists in group B and for the health and safety of everyone, we moved out in groups of 14 to 16 cyclists per section, Colm Yeats, Brendan Kiernan and myself each taking a group. It was to be another hill dominated route not so much on the outward leg, but definitely on the homeward section of the spin. Heading for Moate, passing the familiar sight of Dysart and on towards Horseleap where the motivational skills of Martin O’Donnell encouraging Carmel Buckley up a hill faster than Johnny Hoogerland! 

By the time we made it to Moate the ringing in her ears had somewhat subsided. After a tea-break we headed in the direction of Ballymore with one hill after another, each one getting tougher than the last, we made it home in good time and a decent work-out of 75km.

With the” Spring Spin” in mind there will be two routes next Sunday 1st April, if the “Flanders Spin” dose not appeal to you, we will have a 100km spin also. It is hoped to have the 100km spin on the road for 8.30am sharp in order to be back home at a reasonable time.

The last few weekends have seen the c group step up the distance and intensity of our Sunday morning spins. Last weekend after completing a steady spin through north Westmeath on Sunday, a large number of hardy souls headed for the blooms on Monday 19th March. Having assembled in Tullamore, we began the spin to Kinnity, and after picking up an additional rider on the way, we began to climb towards the Wolftrap. I found it very tough going, and am not much of a hill climber at the best of times, I sat back and watched the more experienced cyclist give me exhibition in how to climb a hill. When I say sit back, it was at least 10 minutes behind everyone else. Having scaled the first climb, needless to say I was much better going down. On heading to the second climb the group split a little and after a long and difficult climb we all reached the top and descent towards a well earned break and the best value €4.99 breakfast in Ireland.

Sunday 25th - What a spin! With so many new riders to the group, we decided on a short spin towards Edenderry. It was a fantastic morning for cycling and spirits were high as we headed towards Rhode. After some confusion in Rhode as to the best way to Edenderry, the group finally reached the tea stop with 29

miles on the clock The trip home presented us with some dilemmas, and having to adjust the route slightly on numerous occasions to allow for us avoiding the road works at the Downs, we ended up with another 31 miles on the clock. I would like to point out that the group was more than half made up of new-comers, and all covered the distance and  kept pace(average 15.9 mph), so well done to you all, and hope you are not to sore on Monday.